Investigators said Francis and a group of armed accomplices carjacked two women at an apartment complex in Boca Raton on Feb. 19. One week later, a Riviera Beach police officer spotted the stolen vehicle and tried to pull it over.

Francis allegedly refused to pull over and accelerated to speeds around 70 mph, police said. Francis blew through a red light at the intersection of Military Trail and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when there was heavy traffic, crashing into two cars.

Five people were hurt, including Francis, who was seriously injured. Francis is now behind bars at the Palm Beach County Jail.

Correctional records show Francis was released from prison in November after serving an 18-month sentence for an armed robbery case in West Palm Beach.